What kind of converter do I need?

[Kim]

OK, I don't have satellite or anything, so I guess I will need to get a converter. I don't think it is worth it for me to buy a new tv because I don't watch a whole lot of it. I just think it is such a pain that I have to pay some more now just so I can keep getting my channels. Oh well. I guess there isn't much I can do about it.

[Derek]

I get mine over air. Don't care much for comcast and it's monopoly. Haven't had satellite since the Primestar days. Now that was a system I thoroughly enjoyed when I lived in West Virginia. When I moved back to Maryland, didn't have anymore need for it. I rarely watch TV, and if I do, it's generally for the news, but I do like to watch cops and AMW LOL

It definitely sounds to me that a converter is the way to go for you if your TV doesn not have a digital tuner. There really doesn't seem to be much of a need for you to go and spend a bunch of money on a new TV if it simply won't get a whole lot of use in the first place. In fact, if you haven't already done so you should sign up to get a $40 coupom from the government for a converter. With what you describe, it seems like the coupon should help you with getting a basic converter for your needs.

[tvluvr]

I too do not like Comcasts monopoly, that's why I'm getting my satellite. Still, with the set I have, I may end up getting a new set anyway. Who knows.... Maybe I won't like the satellite either, which leaves me back to air television....

[Kim]

Umm...OK, at the risk of sounding like an idiot again, what do you guys mean when you say they have a monopoly. I know what a monopoly is. Are you saying that comcast is the only company that provides cable services? So, are you saying that I have to use comcast if I want to use cable instead of satellite? I thought that monopolies were illegal.

[draiken78]

Umm...OK, at the risk of sounding like an idiot again, what do you guys mean when you say they have a monopoly. I know what a monopoly is. Are you saying that comcast is the only company that provides cable services? So, are you saying that I have to use comcast if I want to use cable instead of satellite? I thought that monopolies were illegal.

I think the reason most people talk about the 'Cable' monopoly is for 1 simple reason. They are probably the onlt cable company that provides service to their area. I have a similar situation in the area I live in. We have Mediacom, and they are the 'Only game in town'. Each year for the last few years, they have been dishing out around a 10% rate at the beginning of the year. I'm sure they justify it as simply passing on heir operating costs to the customers, but in that same time frame they have added no new networks to their line-up, and in the last 2 years they have added about 10 HD channels. Of those 10 HD channels, 5 of them are local channels which broadcast in HD over the air. Did I mention they charge $6.99 a month to lease a HD reciever, as well as another $9.99 per month to actually recieve those 10 HD channels?

Luckily for me, I'm in an area where satelite is an option. I know the nearly 100 HD channels I get through DirecTV for the same price as I could get 10 from my cable company is a huge bonus. For some though, even satellite is not an option. Either they are in an area which the satellites have no coverage, or they have too many trees on their property that block the satellites view of the sky, making cable their only realistic option.

[SWHouston]

So in a nutshell:

1. If you have Satellite or Cable Service, they'll probably take care of it for you.
2. If you're getting your signals from an Indoor/outdoor Antenna, and have older Analog (NTSC) equipment, you WILL need a box.
3. Boxes run from as low as $40 thru $250 (or so).
4. Some of the cheaper boxes, do NOT have a Remote Control.
5. Most of the Boxes do NOT have a HD Tuner in them.
6. The cheaper Boxes will not deliver higher definition.
7. Coupons (worth $40) do not apply to ALL DTA Boxes.
8. You can NOT do Sequential Channel Scheduled Recordings thru them.
9. You can NOT watch one channel and Record another with one Box, you’ll have to have TWO !

Anyone think of anything else ?

Just in case you don’t know what is meant by “Sequential Channel Scheduled Recordings”:

In the past, you set your analog VCR/DVD to several programs over several days.
These Boxes do NOT change channels or turn themselves on and off.
To do a timed recording, you will have to set the Box to ON, select a Channel, then set your recorder to record once, or each day without turning the Box off or changing the channel on it.
You can change the channel for some other program recording, but, you must leave the Box on, and waiting for the Recording to take place.
You will have to leave your VCR/DVD/TV on the same Channel always, and do your watching/recordings on that Channel.
(the one the Box transmits to it/them) (Ch 3-4, Aux, R1, whatever)

Have a good Day !
PS: Good Post, Derek !

[hdtvlabs]

Nice list, SWHouston!

I will add also

10. If you want to keep watching NTSC broadcasts (as long as these are available) you need a converter box with an "analog-passthrough". Not all boxes have this feature.
11. Some of the coupon eligible converters have "S-video" output, but not all. I strongly prefer S-Video over RF connection

[SWHouston]

hdtvlabs,

Your additions are quite valid, and something I would choose to have with a Box. I just happen to have a newer Analog set, a $$ Christmas present, which does have the S-Vid and there IS a respectable increase in picture quality, when viewing via that.

All in all, I am very disappointed in the quite limited capability of what is on the market now, but, waiting for something better may not be good advice.
As a possible…

7a, to the list, one should know that the Coupons have a Time Limit for Application for them AND a Time Limit for them to be used!

I wonder if our Government really knows just how much trouble and cost this is creating! This technology is totally inadequate, and apparently fabricated to be placed in some spare room, with a TV which you just don’t want to throw away. Any form of convenience is lost, and I’m just going to have to replace my DVRs with ATSC. I do a lot of off-hour recording, and the limitations of this technology is going to completely absorb any enjoyment which I previously experienced.

But yes, Digital is better, I’m just sorry that someone “up there in Washington”, didn’t think of a better way to get it done, specially with the way our economy is, many can’t even afford Fuel and Food. Pitiful!

Have a good Day !
S.W.

[draiken78]

In my opinion, what they should have done was simply require all new TV's to have a digital tuner. Also, rather than require all stations to be broadcast only digitally, they should have required the current analog transmission as well. I much more reasonable phase out of anolog would have been to discontinue all anolog broadcasts 5 years after all new TV's were required to have digital tuners.

This aproach would make much more sense to me, as everybody I know expects their new TV's to last them at least 5 years. This would be a much more natural way to phase out anolog broadcasts and would cause far less confusion. Not to mention, it would give technology a better chance to catch up for the few people who were still not prepared to purchase a new TV.

[Bill]

Luckily for me, I'm in an area where satelite is an option. I know the nearly 100 HD channels I get through DirecTV for the same price as I could get 10 from my cable company is a huge bonus. For some though, even satellite is not an option. Either they are in an area which the satellites have no coverage, or they have too many trees on their property that block the satellites view of the sky, making cable their only realistic option.

I think that is a real shame that there are still people out there without the option. When I first moved to where I live, cable wasn't an option because we were too far out in the country. So, we went ahead with satellite. I have stuck with it, though, because it seems like a better deal to me. It does have its flaws, but I think it is overall a better deal.